Retail sales in the U.S. dropped 1.1 percent last month from October, according to the Commerce Department. Sales were expected to be down .3 percent month-over-month in November, according to a survey of analysts, reports CNN.
"The numbers are much weaker than expected," Gus Faucher, chief economist for PNC Financial Services Group, said in an email. "The economy looks much softer at the end of 2020."
Leading the decrease are apparel and electronics retailers and gas stations. Consumer spending at grocery stores and online was up. For the year, retail sales are up 4.1 percent overall compared to this time last year.